The NationalCredit Union Foundation in Madison, Wis., activated on Tuesdayits online disaster relief system, CUAid.coop, to raise money forvictims of last week's epic floods in Colorado. The foundation saidit estimated more than 10,000 credit union employees, volunteersand members may need some type of assistance.

“We, at the Mountain West Credit Union Association, initiallydidn't think we were going to need much CUAid funding, but after westarted receiving inquiries we were able to see the need fromcredit union members who could use a helping hand,” said DanSantangelo, executive director of MWCUA's Foundation.

The Colorado flood disaster claimed the lives of eight people andcaused property losses of an estimated $2 billion across 17counties, including the destruction of at least 1,800 homes,according to national media reports.

The 10,000 people who may need assistance is based on estimatesreported by Colorado credit unions to MWCUA and NCUF, Santangelosaid.

Gerry Agnes, president/CEO of the $1.1 billion Elevations CreditUnion, told MWCUA an estimated 5% to 10% of the cooperative's100,349 members may have been impacted by the storm, as well as thesame percentage of its 320 employees.

Elevations launched a $200,000 fundraising initiative to helpflood victims.

Other credit unions that may have employees, volunteers andmembers who may need assistance are the $300 million Boulder Valley Credit Union, the $445 million PremierMembers Federal Credit Union in Boulder, the $62 million BoulderMunicipal Employees Credit Union, the $57 million Weld SchoolsCredit Union in Greeley, the $119 million Sterling Federal CreditUnion in Sterling, the $161 Fitzsimmons Federal Credit Union inAurora, and other credit unions in the Centennial area, Santangelosaid.

“We have spoken to all of those credit unions and each of themsaid they thought they may have a need for assistance,” saidSantangelo.

The applications for assistance are starting to come in and thecash assistance amounts have ranged from $500 to $1,500 to helpstaff, volunteers and members to secure temporary livingarrangements. MWCUA Foundation has distributed about $15,000 so farto about 10 applicants.

“Some of those members are estimated not to be able to go backto their homes until late December or the first of the year,”Santangelo said. “I had one (credit union) member come in fromLyons, (just north of Boulder) which has essentially been shutdown.”

As donations are posted through CUAid.coop, NCUF will coordinatewith the MWCUA Foundation in the disaster area to distribute moneyto affected credit union employees and members.

“To help alleviate the devastating effects of this disaster, weencourage credit union leaders all across the country to useCUAid.coop as a channel to collect donations from their employees,volunteers, and members,” said Christopher Morris, NCUF director ofcommunications.

All of the donations through CUAid will go to credit uniondisaster relief. In the event that all donations are not used forColorado Flooding relief, NCUF will transfer any and all unusedfunds to its general disaster relief fund for future disasterrelief efforts.

To donate, please go to CUAid.coop.